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The Maelstrom-class battle cruiser was a class of battlecruiser that was introduced during the Clone Wars and deployed by the Republic Navy of the Galactic Republic as their largest capital ship and as a ship of the proto-Star Destroyer family. Despite its power, only a select few witnessed any action. At the end of the war, the battlecruisers were in service to the Galactic Empire but were mothballed and discarded. At least one, the Simoom, came under ownership of the Alliance to Restore the Republic.
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
The Maelstrom-class battle cruiser was manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards and belonged to the family of dagger-shaped proto-Star Destroyers such as the Venator-class Star Destroyer and the Acclamator-class assault ship. The Maelstrom-class was designed to inspire awe in allies and fear in enemies, and as such had a long, thin, and heavily armored cranked delta hull with twin command suites that were positioned at the aft over the main sublight engines.[1]
The Maelstrom-class was armed with ten port and ten starboard heavy turbolaser batteries, ten ventral battleship ion cannons, ten port and ten starboard medium ion cannons, ten port and ten starboard and ten forward-mounted proton torpedo launchers, ten ventral retractable quad-barrel assault concussion missile launchers, twenty ventral medium tractor beam projectors, and ten ventral heavy tractor beam projectors. It had a long-ranged sensor, along with a deflector shield generator. It was equipped with sublight engines that were used in conjunction with a class 3 primary hyperdrive and a class 15 as a backup. For navigation, it was equipped with a navigation computer and had consumables for two years with an encumbrance of 12,500.[1]
The Maelstrom-class was crewed by 45,000 officers, pilots, and enlisted crew, and could accommodate 15,000 troops and support staff. It carried a complement of numerous assault ships, gunboats, landing craft, shuttles, and an entire fighter wing of 120 starfighters, although standard specifications were ninety-six starfighters. A single ship of the class cost 158,000,000 credits.[1]
Role[edit | edit source]
Due to its characteristics, the Maelstrom-class battle cruiser was optimized for fleet command duties, along with fleet carrier and planetary siege capabilities.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Produced at the onset of the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Separatist Alliance, the Maelstrom-class battle cruiser was the largest and most impressive vessel within the Republic Navy. Despite its impressive design, the battle cruisers proved unpopular were phased out of service soon after its introduction, which by that time, the war was in its final stage as newer and faster ships such as the Victory-class Star Destroyer. Additionally, the Maelstroms were never really deployed in their planned roles as they required vast resources to maintain and too expensive to operate, despite its power.[1]
The lead ship of the class, the Maelstrom, served with distinction at the Battle of Kromus and later at the Battle of Cularin when it was under the command of Jedi General Darrus Jeht, although most of the other ships of the class never partook in combat. Once the Clone Wars ended and the Republic transitioned into the Galactic Empire, the Imperial Navy reorganized and as a result, the Maelstrom-class battle cruisers that remained in service were eventually mothballed, used as test beds, or broken up. By the Galactic Civil War against the Rebel Alliance, a handful of the mothballed ships still remained, with at least one of them, the Simoom, serving within the Alliance Fleet.[1]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Lead by Example (First mentioned)
